Supervised visits are now the only way Eric Adjepong can see his 7-year-old daughter. A yearlong protective order took effect this month. The “Top Chef” finalist must also complete parenting classes and begin reunification therapy with the girl. The restriction stems from a civil ruling, not a criminal case. Adjepong maintains that investigators found no evidence against him.
What the court’s protective order means for Eric Adjepong and his daughter
The order runs through July 10, 2027. It prohibits the 38-year-old from contacting, harassing, abusing, or threatening to abuse his daughter or estranged spouse, Janelle Davis-Mack. Contact is not severed entirely.
The Washington Post reported that Adjepong can still spend time with his daughter when another person is present. The order therefore allows supervised visitation rather than ending contact altogether.
The petition that led to the order was filed on May 1. A nurse who examined the girl had alerted the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency. Court records show the referral became a police matter the same day. Litigation between the parents predates it by years, with their divorce settled in 2022 and custody disputes continuing afterwards.
The civil case used a lower standard of proof than a criminal case. The Maryland judge ruled that “there is a preponderance of the evidence to believe” the chef physically abused the child, according to The Washington Post.
Adjepong disputes the abuse finding. In a statement shared on social media, Adjepong said the Metropolitan Police Department “closed its investigation without filing charges.” He also said CFSA reached an “unfounded” disposition.
A police spokesperson separately spoke to The Washington Post. The spokesperson said the Youth Investigations Branch found no probable cause regarding a sexual abuse allegation. Police then returned the case to CFSA. The judge’s finding concerned physical abuse.
Citing his daughter’s privacy, Adjepong declined to discuss specific details. He only said the claims “arose in the context of a long-running divorce and custody proceeding.”
Davis-Mack has spoken more openly about the matter. Referring to her daughter on Instagram, she wrote, “I’ll never stop believing her, protecting her, or reminding her that her voice matters.”
Her attorney, Todd K. Mohink, told the Washington Post, “The court did the right thing to protect the best interest of the child.”
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